Canadian Food Inspection Agency lays 8 charges against BC farmer

Eight charges have been laid against a BC farmer for contraventions under the Health of Animals Act.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced the charges against Richard John Yntema on April 22.

Yntema, who is from Enderby, had his first appearance in court on April 23 and is due in provincial court in Salmon Arm again on May 7.

According to the CFIA, the following charges are laid on Mar. 20, 2024:

• 1 alleged contravention of the Health of Animals Regulations which stipulates unless there is a permit issued under section 160, no person shall feed to any animal material in any form whether or not incorporated into another thing that is derived from specified risk material

• 2 alleged contraventions of the Health of Animals Regulations which stipulates that no person shall feed meat, meat by-products or food that is suspected to contain meat or meat by-products to swine or poultry, or permit swine or poultry to have access to the meat or by-products.

• 2 alleged contraventions of the Health of Animals Regulations which stipulates that no person shall feed the carcass of an animal or part of one to livestock or poultry unless certain conditions are met.

• 3 alleged contraventions of the Health of Animals Act, two of which are for obstructing or hindering an inspector, and one for making a false or misleading statement to an inspector.

According to the statement, he is presumed innocent until proven guilty and the notice of charges is part of the CFIA’s commitment to openness and transparency.

“The CFIA is responsible for the administration and enforcement of federal legislation, acts, and regulations,” says a release from the agency.

“The CFIA informs the public when charges have been laid by its Enforcement and Investigation Services (EIS). Charges are laid by EIS after the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) decides to prosecute the charges.”

Not the first time man has been fined by CFIA

On Feb. 7, 2022, Yntema pled guilty and was convicted of one count of contravening the Health of Animals Act.

He was ordered to pay a fine of $7,500.

According to the CFIA, the charges state that between Oct. 26, 2018 and May 15, 2019, Yntema “obstructed and hundred” animal health inspectors with the CFIA.

According to the agency, Yntema failed to provide requested contact information for regulated parties delivering unidentified or untagged animals for slaughter at Valley Wide Meats, which is in Enderby.

All remaining charges, which are not listed by the CFIA, against Yntema were stayed by the Crown.